Winter of our discontent, sports fans

Can things get any worse for Philly sports fans?

Let’s recap what is quickly turning into the winter of our discontent.

There’s no Flyers. The NHL and its players continue to be in a standoff after the owners locked out the players.

The Eagles are a disasaster, sitting at 3-8 and losers of 7 straight games. Yesterday the bloodletting at the NovaCare Center continued. After canning a couple of front office types, Andy Reid pared one of the stars from his roster by releasing former All-Pro defensive end Jason Babin. No big loss there. Babin was a figment of the Wide 9 alignment brought in by line coach Jim Washburn. When he isn’t getting sacks, Babin does do a lot for the team. Yesterday the Eagles decided to sack Babin.

The team also announced wide receiver DeSean Jackson is out for the rest of the season with cracked ribs. Good thing Jackson decided to actually play this year, as opposed to last year when he admits he wasn’t really into because he didn’t like his contract. Hard to believe he’ll be missed in this sorry season.

The Sixers won again last night, but they continue to do so without much-heralded center Andrew Bynum. He now is out indefinitely with knee problems.

It makes a fan long for pitchers and catchers reporting to Clearwater.

Only one problem with that. While Carlos Ruiz will be in Clearwater for spring training, he won’t be in the lineup for opening day. Or the 24 games following that one. Ruiz yesterday got slapped with a 25-game suspension for his second violation for amphetamine use. Swell.

Long winter? you bet. And a lousy spring to follow.

Check out Dennis Deitch's take on the Eagles move to sack Babin yesterday. It's right on the money.

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